The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 103

This was the song that Logan, who voluntarily left Targeting Star and returned to the UK, performed as his original piece in the final round of the UK’s hottest audition program, Singing in UK.

It’s the song that topped the official UK music charts for seven consecutive weeks after that.

– Wake up in the shining morning

I saw something special

It’s like a UFO from heaven

A clear voice, a flawless finish on each note. A perfect performance without a single missed beat.

And more than anything else…

“No way, this song is seriously amazing? And this is the first song he ever wrote?”

“Incredible… He’s too good to just be a trainee!”

“He could totally be a composer.”

“Logan, Logan-ah…”

“Chunyong, just for a moment, please look over here!”

More than anything else, the unmistakable reaction of the crowd.

No, the reaction of the public.

‘I think someone called out to me at the end, but whatever…!’

Logan looked truly happy actualizing his bucket list dream on this distant land of Korea.

As if singing was his true calling, as if he couldn’t even imagine not being on stage.

And while it might be that the [Don’t Cry, Be Brave (D)] I received from Ex had some effect, regardless of that…

That kid, thinking of leaving?

I clenched my fists tightly and dismissed all the thoughts I’d had before.

The other plans about what to do if I couldn’t keep Logan.

No matter what, Logan had to debut with Targeting Star, here in Korea.

For the sake of Arrows.

…For the members who suffered because of me, because of Kim Chunyong.

‘Logan is absolutely essential for Arrows.’

Waaaah!

“Thanks! Thank you, thank you so—ugh, Huh?”

I lightly poked Logan in the side to get his attention as he smiled at the cheering crowd and the production staff, who were barely holding back their applause out of sheer admiration.

“Chunyong hyung, the busking isn’t over yet, so why all of a sudden….”

I just grinned at Logan and mouthed the words silently.

Logan, still not quite accustomed to reading lips in Korean, frowned slightly as he mimicked my mouth movements, then suddenly opened his mouth wide in realization.

What I said was simple.

‘Let’s talk after this.’

Because through that conversation,

I needed to know why you left.

“…Ok, got it.”

“Oh, it’s my turn to sing again! The next song I’ll perform is by 2OCD seonbaenim….”

Logan’s response and Won Hyeop hyung’s voice blended together as the still-ongoing busking continued.

That time was more than enough for Logan to showcase his talent.

And it was far too much time for my anxiety to grow.

* * *

“Huff, amazing….”

Seong Won Hyeop lightly clicked his tongue as he reflected on today’s busking.

‘No, seriously, that was insane!’

Not only did they end up competing for space with a dance team in an outdoor shoot that might have barely succeeded even under normal circumstances, but they also managed to capture every scene during the busking, even though the filming was delayed.

‘I thought this WeTube content was a lost cause, that I wouldn’t be able to gain any recognition from it. Unbelievable.’

What barely patched up that chaotic situation wasn’t the production staff, now sighing with relief in front of the van, but the two trainees who had come with him.

Kim Chunyong, who made busking possible with his excellent dance skills and drew attention with his unique vocal tone.

And Logan Lee, who carried the entire busking session with just his guitar accompaniment.

‘I guess these two are really talented kids.’

Recalling their faces, Seong Won Hyeop showed a bittersweet smile.

‘I’m honestly not as good as they are. Even if I debut, it’s right that those kinds of kids should be the ones on stage. But still….’

“I also love being on stage as much as they do….”

“Sorry, Trainee Seong Won Hyeop, what did you say?”

“Oh, nothing!”

Throughout the filming of Targeting Star, Seong Won Hyeop had been plagued by anxiety due to his older age and longer training period compared to others.

But today’s experience had, instead, helped clear his mind.

Truly, just watching others pour everything they have into something can have a huge impact.

For example, dancing with a street performer on a whim for the sake of filming. Or playing a song on the guitar with all your might, even if it’s one you’ve never heard before.

Seong Won Hyeop clenched and unclenched his fist a few times, nodding to himself.

‘First, let’s try everything I can do. And if, after doing all that, it still doesn’t work out… I’ll make my decision then.’

Whether to debut or to choose something else….

“The trainees have arrived! We’ll head back to the dorm now!”

“Oh, you’re here? I thought you’d be late, but you got back sooner than I expected….”

Seong Won Hyeop was about to greet the two trainees who had just climbed into the van but then raised an eyebrow.

“Did you two go to the convenience store?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. Here’s the jelly you asked me to get!”

“Oh, thanks, Logan. But hey, what’s up with Chunyong’s expression? He looks kind of… off.”

“…Huh?”

At Seong Won Hyeop’s comment, Kim Chunyong quickly fixed the strange expression he had been wearing and answered casually.

“Haha, I tried a new drink that just came out, but it was really bad. That’s why I look like this. Hyung, don’t ever drink it. Seriously, don’t.”

“Oh… really? What kind of drink was it?”

“Uh, well. I took one sip and threw it away right after… I’ll look it up online right now.”

With that, Kim Chunyong buried his face in his phone, and soon after, he grimaced slightly, rubbing his forehead.

‘Sh*t.’

“The reason I’m going back to Liverpool is… my parents don’t really like that I’m in Korea. Maybe? I’m not exactly sure since we haven’t really talked about it.”

“Why haven’t you talked to them about it…?”

“You know. We’re not on the best terms.”

The thought that it might be a family issue was half right and half wrong for Kim Chunyong.

‘If it were just a normal situation of leaving because of family issues, I could’ve tried to steer the conversation toward an honest discussion.’

[- X: How did the conversation go? Are you definitely going together with him….]

Kim Chunyong took a deep breath as he previewed Ex’s blinking message on the screen.

So, the reason Logan was leaving, which he had secretly revealed during their supposed convenience store run…

“So I came here secretly, but somehow it seems I got caught….”

“Wait, you’re saying you’re a runaway?”

“Oh, to be precise, I’m not a teenager. And I’m not exactly a runaway either. My grandmother helped me out, and under UK law, I’m an adult, right?”

“Regardless, in Korea, you’re still a minor, you idiot!*”

(T/N: Legal age in the UK is 18, but in Korea, it’s 20.)

It turned out he was being forced to return home because he ran away.

…He ran away with the help of his grandmother, without his parents knowing, and got caught by AG, so now he has to go back!

I can’t believe you’re a runaway, with that retriever-like face!

“Haha….”

“Hey, Chunyong. This is pretty good. You should try it.”

Kim Chunyong stuffed the jelly Seong Won Hyeop handed him into his mouth with a defeated smile.

Just when it seemed like things were finally starting to go well.

‘How am I supposed to stop a runaway from being safely returned home…?’

The debut group for Targeting Star was starting to sink deeper into a labyrinth.

T/N: Just some interesting facts on the age system in Korea, if you’re interested!

Legal age in the UK is 18, but in Korea, it’s 20. The old age system of Korea deems newborns 1 year old, which then adds a year to international age for Koreans. Though, this shouldn’t apply to foreigners.

A new law passed in June 2023 which now standardizes the age system.

Old system: international age of a Korean – 19, Korean age: 20

New System: international age – 19, Korean age: 19

Many Koreans still reject the new system, and still follow the old system in casual settings, but the older Koreans are happy to announce that they’ve become younger, haha!